Rediscovering a Classic

When I moved to the Twin Cities in the late 1970s to attend college, I was amazed at the active running community. Coming from a small town where I once had beer tossed at me while running, the idea of running around a lake without behind hassled was intriguing. When I was introduced to Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, I discovered what thousands of runners before and since have learned: it's the perfect running lake.

I admit to being biased. I direct the Hennepin-Lake Classic, and each year since 1980 (I missed the first two) I've been down at Lake Calhoun very early on the first Sunday in August. Some of Calhoun's charms are obvious, and some grow on you:

• It is almost a perfect 5K around. That makes it a great loop to check your fitness or just relax and enjoy the sights.


• You always have a view across the lake. Unlike other lakes, you are never out of sight or around a bend. You can always tell where you are at Calhoun.


• You're never alone. Even those early mornings race directing, there is someone else at the lake. I'll run somewhere else when I want to be alone, but I'll go to Calhoun when I want to be part of the crowd.


• There is plenty of water available. There are multiple water stops on each loop of the lake, meaning you can refresh yourself on the hot summer days.


• The lake feel like a party. Running a loop around Lake Calhoun in the summer will bring you in contact with sun-tanners, sail-boarders, volleyball players, inline skaters, Frisbee flippers, dog walkers, archers, cyclists, and more. Calhoun is a lake that knows how to have fun!

• It is only a few steps from Uptown Minneapolis. If you are looking for food and entertainment, you don't have far to go after your run.


• The more it changes the more it stays the same. I've run the lake for more than 30 years, and the area has undergone some major changes. However, just plop in a video tape of the movie The Personals (if you still have a VCR), and you'll see a view of the lake circa 1980 that looks very familiar. As an added bonus, you'll also see the Hennepin-Lake Classic race with a cameo appearance in the movie.

If you haven't discovered the joys of Lake Calhoun, stop over see what you've been missing. If you don't mind sharing, come for the Hennepin-Lake Classic on Sunday, August 1, and you can run a 5K or 10K or even both (the DoubleHeader). After a lap or two (or three!) around the lake, you can judge for yourself if it's the perfect lake for running. You may even have a few reasons of your own to add to my list. And you definitely won't leave thirsty!

McLovin, Irish Pigs and O'Runners (Oh my!)

The year's Human Race Hero, Cynthia Schroeder Brochman, was someone you wanted on your team. From her college years at St Olaf to her days on Racer's Edge, Run N Fun and Baba Yaga, she knew how to do her best while encouraging and amusing her teammates. (More on that soon on Teri J Dwyer's TJ's Turf blog).

Brochman died last December after a one-year battle with cancer. She will be honored posthumously at the St Patrick's Day Human Race on Sunday, March 28. Her highly competitive Run N Fun team will be there, as well as dozens of teams of citizen athletes.

The event allows you to create your own team, so amidst the teams like Target Run Club and Cargill Club Run you'll find Dandy Long Legs, Team Bumble, True Players and The Heavy Breathers. There's also Team RED (Run Eat Drink) and Hot Sauce, The Fantastic Five, Run&Brunch and the A Team. A few team names reflect the St Patrick's Day theme, including McLovin, Irish Pigs and the O'Runners. Finally, the largest team so far is a group of work friends: Boogers and Bones. They all work at Regions Hospital, so their name, besides being fun to say, reflects their professional duties.

Some teams train together, others will only gather for this race. Each team has its own set of reasons why they exist. One common theme: teams add fun! Whether you race together or just meet afterward, being on a team raises the fun quotient.

Some of my most fun running experiences have come when I was on a team. From formal racing teams to pick-up teams for relays, I like being a part of something bigger than myself. The competitive side can be fun, but the camaraderie is the thing. I can't really say it any better than the team description for the O'Runners: "For our team name we had a difficult time deciding between O'Drunkards and O'Runners...most of us would consider ourselves better drinkers than runners so maybe we should've stuck with that!" Going with your strengths is always a good idea, but I think you'll be okay with O'Runners.

Got team? What's your story?



PS It's not too late to form your own team, and not all the good team names are taken. Check out our special contest on The Sporting Life page on Facebook.

Best Running Advice Comes From A Turkey

As a runner for more than thirty years, I've been on both the giving and receiving end of advice. Runners, in general, are both eager to help and easily overwhelmed by the volume of information available. Sometimes it takes a filter to help advice make sense. I've started using a 'turkey' filter for running advice.

Turkeys have been given a bad name in running. For example, 'turkey' is the term used to refer to unregistered runners, the bane of timers using the venerable chutes and spindles timing system. When these scofflaws cross the finish line they mess up the syncing of finish times and finish tags. The solution? Place a 'turkey tag' on the spindle. Chip timing has made that issue less common, but the term remains in use. In case you're not a hunter (or a turkey), you may not know that 'turkey tags' also refers to a hunting requirement that your harvest be properly labeled. This is not a popular term in the flock.

Most people don't realize that turkeys are quite good runners. We're used to the overfed, under-exercised fatties that end up on our dinner tables for Thanksgiving. Their wild cousins weigh half as much and can run 20 miles per hour. That's three minutes per mile, and they can fly twice that speed.

I've been reading Born to Run, a fascinating story about our true human capacity for distance running. I decided to check in with my friend Tom Turkey to see if we humans could learn something from our feathered friends. Tom was gracious enough to provide a list of helpful hints for your running pleasure.

Tom writes:

"Thanks for the opportunity. Running has been a big part of my life. I really think it has made me a better bird. I look forward each day to my run. Whether I'm going long or just running away, running puts a smile on my beak.

"I've compiled my seven favorite tips. I hope you enjoy. Have a safe Thanksgiving, and remember to go vegetarian!

1. "Shoes are for sissies. I don't know one turkey that wears shoes on a regular basis. Try barefoot running for an authentic experience. The Born to Run guy got that right.


2. "Forage on long runs. I prefer acorns and seeds, but you might go with gel or goo.


3. "Water means life. I wouldn't think of running without a stream nearby. If you don't live near water, or don't like to bend over and lap it up, bring a water bottle.


4. "Know when to peak. I'm always at my leanest this time of year, and frankly it has saved my life. If you're getting ready for a race, prepare like your life was on the line. Really.


5. "Strut your tail feathers. Okay, this one is more about getting a date, but it's good for your running too. If you've got it, flaunt it!


6. "Find a flock. I wouldn't spend winter without one. Find someone to share your runs, or at least listen to your stories.


7. "Don't stuff yourself. I also wouldn't let anyone else do it to you."

Think of Tom's advice as you celebrate Thanksgiving this year. One flock you may want to join, is the crowd gathering for the annual Turkey Run the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Tom will be there, though he keeps a low profile after the incident with the starting pistol a few years ago. You will find him on the race shirt, as usual. He's a big fan of tip #5.

From the Creative Minds of Runners

In my last blog I asked a question: what's missing from the local running scene? I threw out a few thoughts of my own: a relay, uphill mile or a fitness sampler event. Then I opened it up to you...and you opened up to me.

Your responses came back via E-mail, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Some of you already had ideas and were looking for an opportunity to share. Others of you waited for a few posts to come in, then added your own tweaks to those ideas. After dozens of responses were received, I'm ready to make a report.

The responses can be grouped into a few categories:

"I never would have thought of that!"
The leader in this category is Katherine's idea about synchronized running. "Sync up the iPods, let spectators know what you're listening to, then run with the moves: hand gestures, arm movements, dance steps. I think it would be fun for everyone. It would draw attention to the sport, that's for sure." Yes, it would!

Others in this category were a pursuit race where someone was dressed up like a rabbit (Julia) and a Speed Disc Golf event (Elizabeth).

"I should have thought of that!"
Amy came up with this one: "I noticed that many of the larger races around the Twin Cities have a theme that they are centered around, and that seems to attract participants. I thought that it might be interesting to do a wine and cheese run (since there are already a bunch of beer runs that people seem to like)." You had me at cheese.

"Psst..."
The most secretive idea comes from Kristen. She has an idea regarding first-time runners. "Well, I have had this idea for quite some time, and since I'm not a race director, but know YOU , I was thinking of sharing my idea if you'd cut me in on some of the action;)" I can't be more specific because she swore me to secrecy, but I think it has potential.

Variations on a theme
Quite a few people like the idea of a trail or adventure type run. Sean, Dave, Kurt and Nick all mentioned the infamous Living History Farms event in Des Moines, Iowa where runners go through water, over fences and generally get muddy. MDRA has its Mudball event in April, but these people were suggesting something on a larger scale. Julia compared it to cyclocross. Nick and Bill suggested adding hay bales. Adam suggested adding beer to the concept.

Up
Several people liked the idea of climbing. From hills (Heather and Erik) to stairs (Jeff), the concept has its fans. Several Duluthians weighed in with their suggestions of hills.

"I like sharing"
The team concept was a recurring theme. Whether it was relays (Tim and Joe), adventure racing or synchronized running, people are looking for team events.

"Bring it back"
Those who remember running in the 1970s might recall events like a one-hour run (Evan) or last-man-out (Lori Anne). Not all good ideas have to be entirely new!

Now the challenge is to take these great ideas and make something happen. My next blog will invite you to help me with that. Until then, if you see me running in a rabbit suit with my iPod and a beer, you'll know I'm just brainstorming.

A Break from Tradition: The New Race

I like tradition. I direct four events that have been around for at least 25 years, and in a world that changes as much as ours, I'm proud of them. Sometimes, though, tradition works against innovation. The courses, dates and race lengths are part of the 'tradition' package. To break out of that mold, we're creating The New Race.

We now have incredible tools that promote nimbleness. Communication is quick, and with social media everyone has a chance to have their voices heard. Events have been a little slow to adapt. It's time for run/walk events to become user-generated. Rather than event directors, sponsors and municipalities calling the shots, why not open the process? Why not look for ideas that are new, fun and maybe even a little crazy? Why not create The New Race?

My idea is simple: find out what runners and walkers think is missing from the Minnesota running scene and create a new event. We're not going to worry about making it big or doing it more than once. We'll just take a good idea and run with it.

What event would you like to see? What venue would be perfect? What time of year is event-deficient? What premium would you love to receive? Give us as much or as little information as you want: race length, date, course, theme, whatever. Tell us why you think we should do it. We'll collect a handful of finalists, perhaps even mashing together a few different ideas, then put them to a vote.

Just to get you thinking, here are a few of my ideas:

• a one-hour relay on a track or closed loop


• an indoor event that allows you to sample different workouts: yoga, kettle bells, etc.


• an uphill mile


• a long relay that starts and finishes in the Twin Cities metro

Feel free to take and twist those or start from scratch. No idea is too silly or too challenging!

It's easy to submit your ideas:

• Go to our Facebook discussion page and post a comment;


• Send your comment to me on Twitter by using @cfullerrun and hashtag #thenewrace;


• Send E-mail to Chris.Fuller@TSLevents.com.

We'll collect ideas until 9/30/09, and then get back to you with the best. Ideas that don't make the cut for this event might find their way into other TSL events. The New Race is as much an idea incubator as it is an event.

Be a part of something new, something special. Help us create a new tradition of innovation. Help us create the The New Race.

How Facebook Made Me A Better Runner

Chris Fuller/Full Story Blog

I often run alone, but I appreciate the social side of running. Sharing your experiences as a runner, either during the run or afterwards, makes it more satisfying. Now, with new fun tools like Facebook, that sharing can be taken to a whole new level. It can make you a better runner.

Unless you have been in a cave for a few years, you probably have heard of Facebook. Answers to a survey question at our last race indicate that 67% of our participants are already on Facebook. That's probably already above 70%, and growing fast. Facebook has evolved from a tool primarily for college students to a robust space for all adults. I wasn't in that first wave (PCs and Macs weren't around yet when I was in college), so I had to do a little cramming to get up to speed on Facebook. Here's what I found:

1) Personal Pages
Everyone on Facebook starts with a personal page. That's a great way to talk about what you are doing and share that info with your friends. Many of my friends are runners (surprise, surprise!), so I'll see updates with today's workouts, pre-race jitters, post race results, and more. Since photos are easy to upload, I'll also see race pics, trip photos and even nasty road rash (runners and bikes don't always mix well). Every once and awhile, I'll see an organization posting on Facebook as an individual. That's where you'll find the Minnesota Distance Running Association (MDRA).

2) Groups
Groups are collections of people with similar interests. Search for running groups and you'll find hundreds. Facebook search tools are primitive compared to what Google can do on the Internet, but they are a start. The default search results are in descending order by size of group (i.e., biggest on top). There is no way to search by location, so you'll have to just page through if you are looking for running groups in Minnesota. It will take you some time, but you'll easily find one (or more) groups that you want to join. You'll find Run N Fun and TC Running Company as Facebook groups.

Groups are usually built to allow two-way communication: comments, discussion, talking between group members. If you have a running team or even a few training partners, you may want to start your own Facebook group as a way to coordinate runs and share stories and photos.

3) Pages
Pages are what companies do on Facebook. The Sporting Life page on Facebook is here. Facebook is full of pages for runners, from event management companies to equipment manufacturers to running stores and magazines. The best ones don't just duplicate what is on their web sites, but offer different content and more interaction, like discussions, polls and comments. As an owner of a company with a page, I can tell you that we want to hear from you! Comment on it, share it, let us know what you think. The whole point of social media is that you get a voice.

4) Events
You can find hundreds of running events listed on Facebook. Again, the search is lame, so you can't search by city, state or date. Search for "Hennepin" and you'll see Hennepin-Lake Classic right on top, followed by the Uptown Art Fair. Search for "run" and you'll find mostly running races, but also the Lighting Run motorcycle event and golf events on the Fox Run course.

Events usually have guest lists, and you can automatically let your friends know when you decide to do an event.

5) Applications
Facebook has spawned a whole sideshow of gadgets called applications. These are tools built especially for Facebook (they share the computer code with developers). Some of these developers are runners, so you'll see applications like mapping tools, training logs, and various ways to create social connections. Search Facebook applications with keyword "running" and see what comes up.

Next time you are on Facebook, check out groups, pages, events and applications. Tap into the power of social media to help your running. I wonder what I should eat the night before the Hennepin-Lake Classic? Hint: the answer is on Facebook!

Social Media Puts You In Charge

Are your ears burning? We were just talking about you. On Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. In blogs too. We were talking about how things have changed and now you are in charge. Did you get the memo, I mean tweet?

Social media has gone beyond the level of craze. It isn't merely a phenomenon or star-burst. It is a fundamental change in communication patterns. And it puts you in charge. As media and marketers struggle to keep up, social media give you options that break the old rules about who controls the conversation.

I'm not talking about using Facebook to post pictures of your cat or Twitter to let your friends know what you had for lunch. I'm talking about a way for you to get and pass on information that gives you the power to make people listen to you. Marketers have reacted with everything from sheer terror ('ads don't work the way they used to, the world is ending,' to delight, 'so that's what my customers really think'). I tend to be more on the side of delight.

Over my years in retail sales and event management, I've found that talking directly to my customers gives me insights that I cannot gain any other way. Social media makes that communication easier than ever. Rather than being afraid of what you might say, I'd like to encourage you to use social media to communicate with friends and businesses in a way that helps keep things relevant.

One of the things about social media is that by its social nature, you tend to discover the tools by hearing about them from a friend. Someone said you had to be on Facebook to see what your other friends were up to. Someone else told you that Twitter would give you intriguing little slices of information that would become addicting. It's unlikely that anyone ever talked to you about the power you were wielding, or how to make best use of it. Until now. I've come up with a multi-part Runner's Guide to Social Media . Part 1 will lay out the basics: The Game, The Players and The Strategy. Part 2 will go into specific running related examples.

Runner's Guide to Social Media
Part 1

The Game
Social media is all about establishing connections. They're called 'friends' or 'fans' on Facebook, 'followers' on Twitter or simply 'connections' on LinkedIn, but the idea is the same. These are people with whom you share some common interest.

The Players
There are dozens of social media outlets, but the main resources for runners are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and a vast array of blogs.

Blogs (short for web logs) have been around the longest. They are outlets for people to post information and stories, and the best ones have some topical focus. If you search for 'running' on a blog site, you will find thousands of posts. Some common blogging tools include Blogger and Word Press.

Facebook allows you to create a personal page, connect with friends, form groups, and become fans of businesses or organizations that you like. It's easy to posts updates, photos and video.

Twitter is a type of micro-blog. You can post up to 140 characters at a time, so your updates are short and sweet. If you want to know what Lance Armstrong felt about his Tour de France ride today, follow him on Twitter.

LinkedIn is more professional in nature. It allows for a personal page where you can update your education and work histories as well as give and receive recommendations. It also has groups where you can network with people sharing special interests. There are many running-related LinkedIn groups.

The Strategy
As a runner, you can use social media to reach your goals:

• Need someone to run with? Put word out to your friends or join a group. Groups are a great way to keep everyone on the same page for workouts and social gatherings.
• Want to find an event? Search on your own (WARNING: Facebook has ultra-lame search abilities when it comes to events), check-out what events your friends are doing, or better yet, become a fan of organizations that put on events.
• Want to give feedback before or after an event? Post on the event page.
• Have a great photo of you finishing your first 5K? Post that on your personal page as well as the event page.
• Want to keep friends in the loop about your marathon? Tweet from your cell phone as you cross the finish line, or wait a couple minutes and post photos to your Facebook page.
• Have a great recipe you'd like to share with your running friends? Post it!

There are also special tools or applications that can help you along the way. On Facebook, there are apps for running logs, route mapping and more.

My next blog will include Part 2, where I will get into more details about specific pages and groups that runners might be interested in, as well as examples of how to use the strategies listed above.

In true social media form, I'd like to hear from you. We've started a discussion on our Facebook page about how runners use social media. Please join the discussion and make a post. I'm looking for your examples of successful social media approaches.

You can also check out The Sporting Life social media pages:

The Sporting Life on Facebook

TSLZebra on Twitter

Chris Fuller's profile on LinkedIn

FULL STORY blog on Blogger

Please stay connected. Remember: you're in charge!